Laughter is good for the soul. The phrase has been repeated so often and for so long that its origins can’t be attributed to one person. From the Bible to scholars, this proverb has been reincarnated across the world, becoming a global sentiment. Anyone who has ever felt sad, depressed, lonely or angry has found solace in laughter.
Comedy has existed since before recorded history. Comedy has the power to heal, it’s a universal medicine. Comedy pokes fun at the extreme, insane and asinine. It’s a mirror of the collective's most absurd. A reflection of our “inside” thoughts. From the smallest clubs to the biggest arenas, comedy brings people together to laugh.
Dennis Villanueva, professionally known as Dennis Vee, is bringing the laughs to not only Fayetteville and Cumberland County but VFWs along the East Coast with his nonprofit, Laugh It Off!.
A Bronx native, Dennis spent his time growing up between Puerto Rico and the streets of the New York City borough in the ‘70s and ‘80s. No stranger to trouble, Dennis is not shy or ashamed of his youthful escapades and how that led to him bouncing between the island and mainland.
“My upbringing was a ping pong game between NYC and PR. A good rotation of being sent to PR because I was a bad kid… [I spent] summers in either NY or PR, depending on where I lived. Part of the bad kid relocation program,” he said.
He joined the Army after an arrest in 1989, an option that changed the trajectory of his life for the better.
“[The] first time around I was the sh****est soldier in existence. I ‘End Term of Service’ (ETS) in 1996,” he said.
As many know, the military is physically challenging as well as emotionally straining on soldiers and their families. In February of 2001, Dennis started doing standup, finding the perfect blend of Puerto Rican humor and military trauma. That same year, he was invited to perform at a Latino Comedian Showcase, when the unthinkable happened, and Dennis’s comedy career was put on the back burner to serve his country once again.
“I was present during 9/11 with personal ties to the towers. I reenlisted immediately and during that time I served in 1 Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, the Asymmetric Warfare Group and Special Forces,” he explained.
After retirement, he ended up in the classroom, now fighting the battle of providing quality education. He taught Spanish and Career and Technical Education at New Century Middle School and was named Beginning Teacher of the Year.
Three years ago, he got the “itch” to get back on the stage and make people laugh. He’s hosted several area comedy events (Poetic Punchlines, Latin Comedy Night) and headlined at some of the best comedy clubs in the Carolinas (Playhouse Nightclub) alongside some big names in the industry, including Bobby Henline. The self-proclaimed “greatest fan of Theodore Roosevelt and Ernest Hemingway”, licensed pilot, advanced scuba diver and “acceptor of all challenges” is looking to take his comedy national, along with his nonprofit, aimed at healing veterans through laughs. For booking inquiries and more information about Dennis Vee, email dennisveecomedy@gmail.com.
In October of 2024, he founded Laugh It Off!, Moving Veterans From Coping to Hoping. The nonprofit brings comedy shows to VFWs all over the Carolinas and the East Coast with a lineup of hilarious military veteran comedians, including Stefunny Denise, Gerrod Sidbury and Slim the Comedian.
What does Laugh It Off! do?
Laugh It Off! hosts comedy shows to honor veterans, active military members, dependents, and their guests with a stress-free night of comedy while showing our appreciation for the sacrifices they and their families have made for our great nation.
Laugh It Off! provides a platform for veterans to share their stories and experiences with fellow veterans, dependents, and supporters of the veteran community in a way that brings laughter through those shared experiences.
Laugh It Off! comedy shows also provide networking opportunities and resource information as well as stand-up comedy workshops for veterans, active military members, and dependents.
For more information about Laugh It Off! and show bookings, check out the website at www.laughitoff.org and make sure to follow them on social media https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567131106041 for upcoming shows.